BOLTS WILL FACE THE BRONCOS, AND SOME FIERCE WIND AS WELL

It stuffed ear drums. It rattled the silver chimes hanging on a tall pole outside Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the same stadium where the Chargers will meet the Broncos for the second time in a month.

It probably won’t rain. It won’t snow. It won’t be too cold.

But there will be weather today.

When it’s freezing, Philip Rivers wears gloves. When it’s wet, equipment managers dry footballs. There is little countermeasure, however, to wind, an element that can affect the passing game and is forecast to be a factor come the 1:40 p.m. PT kickoff.

According to the National Weather Service, the breeze will kick up in the morning, blowing 13 to 18 miles per hour. Gusts could reach as strong as 32 mph.

Such wind would be a sure-fire story line if this game were in San Diego. Even here, far above sea level, it has been featured prominently on local news.

There are references to a regular-season loss in New England in October 2012 amid a steady wind of 20 miles per hour. Quarterback Peyton Manning was still effective in the conditions, completing 31 of 44 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, but the Broncos lost 31-21.

A high of 47 degrees is projected today. There is a 10 percent chance of precipitation.

Rivers has not thrown in heavy wind this year. On such subjects, Mike McCoy isn’t about to change.

The Chargers coach did not divulge injury insight in the preseason. He didn’t start, with the likes of running back Ryan Mathews (ankle) questionable, in Week 19. In October, he shrugged his shoulders before a Raiders road game about an 8:30 p.m. kickoff.

Wind conditions?

“We’re kicking off at 2:40,” McCoy said. “It’s the same for both teams.”

Stopping Holliday

The Chargers had success containing Trindon Holliday in the regular season. They aren’t about to take him lightly now.

The Broncos returner rewrote the NFL record book a year ago today. At this same site versus the Ravens, he became the first player in league history to return a kickoff and punt for a touchdown in the same playoff game. The yardage totals, 104 and 90, were also the longest in postseason history, respectively.

Limiting Holliday is key. He returned two punts versus the Chargers this year for a combined 6 yards. On kickoff returns, he averaged 26.4 yards, a tick below his season average of 27.7.

“The (team) that finds the hidden yardage, which is special teams, is usually the one that finds itself on the winning end,” said safety Darrell Stuckey, the Chargers special teams captain. “Any play in a game like this on special teams that can change or alter momentum is going to be big.

“We’re ready to face that challenge.”

Nuts ’n’ Bolts

• Not counting his rookie year, the entirety of which he spent on injured reserve, Danny Woodhead is in his fifth NFL season. And this is the fifth time he’s reached the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. Year one was with the Jets. The next three were with the Patriots. “It’s the team you’re on,” Woodhead said. “I’ve been blessed to be on some good teams. I feel like we’ve got a good team here.”

• No update was made available Saturday about the status of running back Ryan Mathews (questionable, ankle). One positive sign was that he wore a brace over his injured left foot Friday. The apparatus is less restrictive than a protective boot, which he wore on Wednesday and Thursday.